Thread: Rack for Forstner bits

Vern top idea I am finding the same situation with all the boxes a waste of space with in them sometimes 3 times larger than required.

Like the morse tapper and extension where did you get the morse bit from?

Yes Vern, that is a damned good idea. Not sure if you saw this in a post that I put up the day after the first delivery in August (I was keen). There's a 10mm Doggie underneath which allows me to spin it out of the way a little (or remove it). It sits on the back of the drill deck.



Our two contraptions are curiously products of our geographical environments. Yours takes advantage of a dry mid-Qld climate where the prospect of rust wouldn't cross your mind (in the design) It presents the bits absolutely at the ready (which is just how I like things). There is some small risk of cutting edge collision, but nothing that a short, sharp, profanity wouldn't fix. But mate! Yer bits wouldn't last three months up here!

From my design you can easily guess the prevailing climate here in Katoomba. In contrast to the amount of consideration that you gave to rust, it was the very first consideration for me! Without checking a chart, I would estimate that it has rained, or just stayed wet from the days previous, on around 35-40 of the last 50 days (seriously). At the summer solstice, I was still wearing three layers of clothes (yup, the same three from April). The high for the day was 15 degrees. Still, better that, than the appalling Sydney humidity I endured for 50 odd years. Actually, they weren't all odd, just the last quite a few.

Good one!. Not too foul for chisel presentation either.......


Ray, the MT2 and the extension are part of the Colt RotaStop system (MT1, 2, 3 plus three extensions 90, 150, 270mm). These all work on a slightly eccentric male and female to ensure a tight grip with no spin-out. The ends of the MaxiCut forstners are male eccentric (Oi! Don't go there!). rsser gave them a pretty thorough once-over here. There's about 15-20 Pen Drills in the line-up as well.

Hi Vern,
Hey, that is a great Idea, & I'm sure I have a bit Of Allum.around the back.
Now, that No. 2 M/T piece near the bottom, will that take the F/Bits, in either Head or Tail Stock.

Hope You Had A Great Christmas, & have a Happy New Year.

Thank you for your Assistance throughout 2011.

Originally Posted by FenceFurniture

.........Our two contraptions are curiously products of our geographical environments. Yours takes advantage of a dry mid-Qld climate where the prospect of rust wouldn't cross your mind (in the design) It presents the bits absolutely at the ready (which is just how I like things). There is some small risk of cutting edge collision, but nothing that a short, sharp, profanity wouldn't fix. But mate! Yer bits wouldn't last three months up here!

From my design you can easily guess the prevailing climate here in Katoomba. In contrast to the amount of consideration that you gave to rust, it was the very first consideration for me! .......

Rust was actually a big consideration in the design. The wet season here is murder on exposed steel and steel that is resting against timber cops a hiding too which is why I chose not to use timber at all. With the aluminium rack, I figure I can just take it off the wall occasionally, particularly after a bit of heavy drilling, and give the whole thing a misting of CRC to keep the bits in good order and ready for their next job.
I used to keep all my router bits in a wooden block full of holes until they got so bad they barely fitted in the collet chuck but now they're in an aerated PVC rack full of holes and I don't have any trouble

Originally Posted by issatree

.....Now, that No. 2 M/T piece near the bottom, will that take the F/Bits, in either Head or Tail Stock.......

Yep - just a standard MT2 but your normal forstners won't fit in it - have to be the Colt Rotastop design.

Originally Posted by TTIT

I used to keep all my router bits in a wooden block full of holes until they got so bad they barely fitted in the collet chuck but now they're in an aerated PVC rack full of holes and I don't have any trouble

Hi TTIT, I feel your pain with the rust up here it is murder. I am currently doing a router bit rack but wont be using wood either. I currently have a rubberised type mat I bought somewhere which is also a moisture holder causing continual rust on the shafts.
What is "aerated PVC" ? or is that just what you call it after you get to it with a drill bit?

Cheers, Ian

Neat idea and practical.

Originally Posted by Nanigai

...........What is "aerated PVC" ? or is that just what you call it after you get to it with a drill bit?

Cheers, Ian

aerated PVC is a sheet form of PVC that has been aerated like a kit-kat to make it lighter and easy to work with - mainly used for advertising boards etc. I scored a 6mm and a 3mm sheet that came as packers for glass plate and have found it very useful for all sort of odds and ends. Workable with all woodworking tools and paintable. If I had some way of getting it out here from Sydney, I'd love a 1 or 2mm thick sheet for making templates.

Vern, I'm pretty sure you don't mean "Corflute" which is a common signage material, but I can't picture what you mean. Is a pic possible? Sounds like interesting stuff that should be in every workshop.

Originally Posted by TTIT

aerated PVC is a sheet form of PVC that has been aerated like a kit-kat to make it lighter and easy to work with - mainly used for advertising boards etc. I scored a 6mm and a 3mm sheet that came as packers for glass plate and have found it very useful for all sort of odds and ends. Workable with all woodworking tools and paintable. If I had some way of getting it out here from Sydney, I'd love a 1 or 2mm thick sheet for making templates.

Thanks for that, I'll check it out. Templates too.....hmmmmm
I also have a rello who is a glazier in Brissie, so he may have some leftovers from his incoming stock.
Cheers, Ian

Originally Posted by FenceFurniture

Vern, I'm pretty sure you don't mean "Corflute" which is a common signage material, but I can't picture what you mean. Is a pic possible? Sounds like interesting stuff that should be in every workshop.

Some piccies as requested - ain't it grand to be on hol's with time to do stuff like this
1. 3mm & 6mm sheets
2. Edge of the 6mm planed then the corner pinched with pliers to show how much the bubbles will crush.
3. Router bit rack from 3 layers of the 6mm PVC.

Good on you Vern. Never seen it before! Looks very versatile and useful (like it belongs in every workshop!).

Yes thanks Vern, looks like just the ticket for templates and such.
just what I need for my router bits, sick of the rust.
The picture really shows it up well.

Hope I can locate some and give it a go.
Cheers, Ian

Try picture framing shops, they normally carry it.

Ross

Cheers for that info Ross, I'll be sure to check it out next week.
Ian